The Nikolov brothers have resurrected Bulgaria’s volleyball scene 

As the final whistle blew, Bulgaria erupted, both in the arena and across the country. For the first time in years, fans had something to believe in again, thanks to the Nikolov brothers, Alex and Moni, carrying not only a volleyball team, but also the future of a nation. 

After years of being in the shadows of the lower 20 teams in the world, a swift comeback left the world shocked. Led by Moni and Alex, their outstanding season with team Bulgaria led them to snatch the silver medal at the 2025 Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB). This marks Bulgaria’s best performance in 45 years, with their last achievement being a silver medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympic games. 

The Bulgarian men’s volleyball team has gone through one of the most surprising comebacks in recent years. For a while, Bulgaria was seen as a team stuck in the middle, not bad, but not great either. They used to be a tough contender back in the early 2000s, making deep runs in international tournaments, but over time, the team fell behind. New stars stopped appearing, veterans retired, and the team lost that hunger that had once made them dangerous. 

The brothers come from a volleyball family. 

Their father, Vladamir Nikolov was the key player of the Bulgarian national team and their mother, Maya Nikolov carried resilience and determination, having the attitude to stay up even through the toughest times. From a young age, the brothers were trained by both of their parents, Moni and Alex stand out on the court for having their own high risk high reward playstyles. Growing up, the brothers were surrounded by volleyball.  

“I’ve been living and breathing volleyball,” Moni told BeachTvNews during an interview. “There was rarely a time where volleyball wasn’t in sight, whether in a pair of hands or on the television.”  

Alex was the first to have experience in the NCAA, being signed to Long Beach State University in 2021 at the age of 18. Alex led the team to a silver medal at the 2022 NCAA national championships. The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) awarded him the National Player of the Year.  

Alex rewrote the record books, becoming the first player in AVCA history to win the award as a freshman. 

On the other hand, Moni was an early bird himself, joining LBSU at the ripe age of 17. As soon as he hit the courts, his highlights were circulating around the internet. His style of play was something the volleyball world hasn’t seen in a while. He was flashy, technical and a 6’10 setter, attributes most can only dream of. 

While the opposition are trying to read his sets, he also has the potential to put the ball into the floor himself. This makes his game so much more unpredictable. 

Soon after, the brothers were both called up to represent their country. Unfortunately, Team Bulgaria was left unqualified for the 2024 Summer Games, but the brothers were able to join Bulgaria for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.  

The brothers’ dynamic playstyle was on display during their game in that tournament against the US. Nearing the end of the second set, Moni stepped under to take lead for the next attack. He approached as if to kill the ball himself, drawing two blockers into the air. He seemingly floated for a moment, turning mid-air and squaring his body towards his brother, now free of the blockers. Moni made a quick back set into his brother’s hands for the kill.  

Their electric playstyle keeps the opposition on their toes and shows why they belong at the highest levels even with their young age. Although they lost, Bulgaria showed their athleticism and held on even when faced against powerhouse team Italy. In the end leading their team to a prestigious silver medal for the first time in over 45 years.  

This win showed more than a team that can play, it made people recognize emergence of volleyball as a truly global and competitive sport. Too many national level sports are dominated by the same handful of teams, for example in soccer, Argentina, England, Brazil, Italy, Germany and France have consistently been at the top of the biggest tournaments for the last century. In contrast, volleyball has been unpredictable in terms of what teams will end up on top, Bulgaria shows this in the clearest ways. 

Together, the duo brought energy, confidence, and belief back to Bulgarian volleyball. Their impact goes further than a silver medal; the brothers helped a country rediscover pride in its game. 

Plamen Konstantinov, the former coach of the national team, said, “There is great potential among the young men… the foundation is there… now we must pursue qualification every year.”  

Following their big silver medal, more youth players and programs have emerged in Bulgaria. Programs such as the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation have started to network for the hundreds of clubs that offer youth development camps.  

Bulgaria’s unexpected rise to the top proves that talent and hard work can top even the most established teams. Bulgarian national coach Plamen Konstantinov is clearly feeling confident. “We’ve shown that with heart and effort, no team is unbeatable,” he said.  

“Bulgaria is back.”  

Image Credit: FIVB